WADA connects with Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

WADA has made an inaugural visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) with the assistance of China to discuss ways the Asian nation can achieve compliance to the World Anti-Doping Code.

Contact was first made with DPRK officials at the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) meeting in Moscow in April, and with the support of the Chinese Ministry for Sport and the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) a meeting was arranged in the DPRK capital Pyongyang in late August.

Rune Andersen, WADA Director of Standards and Harmonization, and Emiliano Simonelli, WADA Senior Manager Standards and Harmonization, were accompanied to the meeting with the DPRK anti-doping committee by officials from CHINADA.

“The main purpose was to connect with the DPRK anti-doping committee, to make an assessment of what program might be in place and to discuss ways we can assist them in developing that program,” explained Mr. Andersen.

“We were encouraged to hear that some testing was already happening and that the DPRK is keen to do more. So we took the opportunity to advise them on what needs to be done to reach compliance and to encourage more resources for testing and education.

“China, who we have to thank for setting up the meeting, has offered to share its expertise and experience with the DPKR. So with the support of both WADA and CHINADA, I am hopeful we can find a means to helping DPKR becoming Code compliant.”

WADA will continue to communicate with the DRPK anti-doping committee and has agreed to set out a compliance strategy that will include a target for the number of tests to be reached by the next Summer Olympic Games.